Airborne platform for aircraft with attitude correction and tow hitch assembly

Abstract

In a general aspect, an airborne geophysical prospection device can include a support structure having a surface area of several hundred square meters and an electromagnetic antenna disposed on the support structure. The electromagnetic antenna can have a surface area of several hundred square meters. The electromagnetic antenna can include one or more loops disposed on the support structure. The support structure can be configured to be towed behind an aircraft with a towing cable. The support structure can be supple, deployable under traction and substantially planar after deployment.

1 . An airborne geophysical prospection device comprising:
 a support structure having a surface area of several hundred square meters; and   an electromagnetic antenna disposed on the support structure, the electromagnetic antenna having a surface area of several hundred square meters, the electromagnetic antenna including one or more loops disposed on the support structure,   the support structure being configured to be towed behind an aircraft with a towing cable, and   the support structure being supple, deployable under traction and substantially planar after deployment.   
     
     
         2 . The airborne geophysical prospection device of  claim 1 , wherein the support structure has a length between forty and sixty meters and/or a width between fifteen and twenty-five meters. 
     
     
         3 . The airborne geophysical prospection device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a traction pole;   means for fastening the support structure to the traction pole;   an attachment element for attachment to the towing cable; and   an attitude-correcting structure including:
 an attitude-correcting pole connected to the attachment element; and 
 traction stays connecting the attitude-correcting pole to the traction pole. 
   
     
     
         4 . The airborne geophysical prospection device of  claim 3 , wherein the attitude-correcting structure is configured to confer a horizontal attitude to the traction pole and the support structure and includes traction stays respectively connecting a first end of the attitude-correcting pole to two opposite ends of the traction pole, and a second end of the attitude-correcting pole to the two opposite ends of the traction pole. 
     
     
         5 . The airborne geophysical prospection device of  claim 4 , wherein the attitude-correcting structure further includes additional traction stays, respectively connecting the first end of the attitude-correcting pole to a central portion of the traction pole, and the second end of the attitude-correcting pole to the central portion of the traction pole. 
     
     
         6 . The airborne geophysical prospection device of  claim 3 , further comprising attachment stays for connecting the attitude-correcting pole to the attachment element. 
     
     
         7 . The airborne geophysical prospection device of  claim 6 , wherein the attachment stays have individual different lengths with respect to a midline of the attitude-correcting pole, such that the attitude-correcting pole is automatically positioned and maintained vertically at an elevation of the midline below that of the attachment element when the airborne geophysical prospection device is towed. 
     
     
         8 . The airborne geophysical prospection device of  claim 3 , wherein the attitude-correcting pole includes a ballast to ensure or favor vertical positioning of the attitude-correcting pole. 
     
     
         9 . The airborne geophysical prospection device of  claim 3 , further comprising electrical connectors within the attachment element. 
     
     
         10 . The airborne geophysical prospection device of  claim 1 , wherein the support structure includes a micro-perforated aerodynamic damping fabric. 
     
     
         11 . The airborne geophysical prospection device of  claim 1 , wherein the support structure includes a tail damping element having a micro-perforated structure. 
     
     
         12 . The airborne geophysical prospection device of  claim 1 , wherein the support structure has, disposed thereon, one or more sensors or probes. 
     
     
         13 . The airborne geophysical prospection device of  claim 1 , wherein the support structure has, disposed thereon, an antenna configured to receive electromagnetic signals. 
     
     
         14 . A method of airborne geophysical prospection comprising:
 providing a supple support structure that is deployable under traction and substantially planar when deployed, the supple support structure having a surface area of several hundred square meters; and   disposing, on the supple support structure, an electromagnetic antenna having a surface area of several hundred square meters, the electromagnetic antenna including one or more loops,   the supple support structure and the electromagnetic antenna being configured to be towed behind an aircraft with a towing cable.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the support structure has a length between forty and sixty meters and/or a width between fifteen and twenty-five meters. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising providing:
 a traction pole;   means for fastening the support structure to the traction pole;   an attachment element for attachment to the towing cable; and   an attitude-correcting structure including:
 an attitude-correcting pole connected to the attachment element; and 
 traction stays connecting the attitude-correcting pole to the traction pole. 
   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 configuring the attitude-correcting structure to confer a horizontal attitude to the traction pole and the supple support structure; and   providing traction stays respectively connecting a first end of the attitude-correcting pole to two opposite ends of the traction pole, and a second end of the attitude-correcting pole to the two opposite ends of the traction pole.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising providing, in the attitude-correcting structure, additional traction stays respectively connecting the first end of the attitude-correcting pole to a central portion of the traction pole, and the second end of the attitude-correcting pole to the central portion of the traction pole. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising providing attachment stays configured to connect the attitude-correcting pole to the attachment element. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the attachment stays have individual different lengths with respect to a midline of the attitude-correcting pole, such that the attitude-correcting pole is automatically positioned and maintained vertically at an elevation of the midline below that of the attachment element when supple support structure and the electromagnetic antenna are towed. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising providing a ballast in the attitude-correcting pole to ensure or favor vertical positioning of the attitude-correcting pole. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising providing electrical connectors within the attachment element. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the supple support structure includes a micro-perforated aerodynamic damping fabric. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising providing, at a tail of the support structure, a damping element having a micro-perforated structure. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising providing one or more sensors or probes disposed on the support structure. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising disposing, on the supple support structure, an antenna configured to receive electromagnetic signals.